Ukobach - [Demon]

Ukobach - [Demonology] - Aka: 'Urobach', 'Ukoback',ウコバク, etc.

• About this demon: Ukobach is a lesser demon of Hell and the 62nd in the hierarchy listed in "Dictionnaire Infernal." [1863] most often described as a demon of "low-rank" (so, akin to an 'imp.') he appears as a large-faced; orange-red (sometimes green) devil-ish man holding a coal shovel, (or perhaps more aptly put, a long-handled, 'iron skillet' as he is both a chef and an engineer.) both he and the shovel are wreathed in flames. They are often credited with "inventing fireworks and the art of fried foods." they are employed by Beelzebub to maintain the eternal coals in hell, keeping it at an infernal temperature much to the dismay & despair of all sinners. – imagine a heat: hotter than last summer, forever getting worse, every shovel, it cranks it up, the moment you get 'used’ to it. Eternally.

• History & Early appearances: As with most of the others, ukobach made his first and most famous illustrated appearance in the 6th 1863 edition of the french Dictionary Infernal with illustrations by Louis Le Burton. - The dictionary says the following:

"Ukobach, A demon of an inferior order, always shows up with a flaming body, said to be the inventor of fireworks and fried foods. Beelzebub entrusts him with maintaining the oil in the infernal cauldrons."

[ukobach in dictionary infernal 1863]

[better quality]

Ukobach was notably classified as a demon of an "inferior or low rank" as such, he was omitted from the Goetia, and lacks a well-documented or "canonoical" Sigil for summoning. [This however hasn't stopped some practitioners from designing their own in an attempt to summon these demons for "grunt work" - [Such Sigil's are usually personally made and are generally, not recommended or intended for re-use, as such I will not be listing one here.] - i'd imagine that if one successfully summoned, he would help you cook something devilishly delicious, and then quickly proceed to light your house aflame! (well, starting fires is his job after all.)

I've seen some speculation that because he's a "lesser demon" he does not have free will/or a consciousness like the other 'greater' demons might, and that he exists only to be commanded demons of higher rank. i've also read that theres more than one or many. – (I'd suppose that's potentially one reason why he was left out of the later grimoires.) - I'm not sure how he'd 'invent fireworks or the art of fried food' without free will (accidentally perhaps? ) – I've also seen others suggest that perhaps he is related to, or was perhaps the same demon known as 'Orobas' however i can find no real similarities between the two aside from having perhaps a 'slightly same-sounding name.' to me he feels more similar to Xaphan in that they're both fire starters who supposedly maintain the abyssal flames. (however xaphan is notably a much higher rank) – There's also a bizarre take included in the 2009 Demonic Encyclopedia that says ukobach is related to 'the lore' of the flame that fuels jack-o-lanterns, unfortunately; said dictionary does not elaborate on this. but i'd assume they're referring to the 'will-o-wisp' which is occasionally seen as a bad omen? if only they had elaborated a smidge more!

• In pop-Culture: Over the years, Ukobach has made quite a few pop-culture  appearances in games and anime. He appears as a green imp in both Shinmegamitensei & Castlevania series (in Castlevania because he levitates, he was mistakenly translated into English as a "Pyromaniac-Gremlin." - Woops!! ) The demons name is also used in the Ao No Exorcist Anime & Yugioh card games. (though the similarity there mostly ends at the name/occupation.)

art sticker by samkalensky part of my demonology series of stickers